martin



E. E. A. MARTIN.

HEEL BRACE.

APPLEATION FILED NOV-1Q. 19l5.-

1,1 95,059. Patented Aug. 15,1916.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELISHA E. A. MARTIN, OF UNIDN CITY, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO BOONE D. COULTER, OF UNION CITY, TENNESSEE.

HEEL-BRACE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELisI-m E. A. MARTIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Union City, in the county of Obion and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Heel- Braces; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in heel braces and the principal object of the device is to provide a structure which is adapted to prevent shoe heels from running over.

Another object of the invention is to provide a counter stiffener which is adapted to be constructed of metal and which may be readily inserted in the boot or shoe at the time of its manufacture.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device which may be constructed of sheet metal and readily inserted in place.

Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts which will be fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view through a shoe heel illustrating this device applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 taken at right angles thereto, and Fig. 3 is an inverted perspective view of the brace.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 1 designates the body of the brace provided at opposite sides with the outstanding arms 2. These arms are bent upwardly at right angles as at 3 to form theextension 4 hav ing the heads 5 formed at their upper terminals. Formed integrally with the body 1 and extending longitudinally therefrom centrally of the side edges is an arm 6 provided with the upturned extension 7 formed at its upper end with the head 8. The arms 4 and 7 together with the heads 5 and 8 cooperate in supporting the heel of the wearer in such a way as to prevent the breaking down of the counter and also avoid the possibility of running the heel over. Formed on opposite sides of the body immediately adjacent the arms 2 are the spurs 9 which are bentdownwardly and are adapted 'to Serial No. 61,566.

enter the heel of the shoe to hold the device firmly in place. As shown in the drawings, namely Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the device is placed between the shoe upper and the lining and between the inner sole and the shoe sole and the heel. In this way, it will be seen that none of the metal will be exposed to be corroded by any moisture and the whole will be protected from the foot of the wearer by the inner sole.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that a particular simple and efficient brace is provided which will effectively prevent the breaking down of the counter and also prevent the shoe from running over thus insuring the shoe retaining its shape for a greater length of time and at the same time holding the foot in the proper position.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that such changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as will fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

hat is claimed is:

1. A device of the class described comprising a body, laterally extending arms on the body, upturned extensions on the arms, heads at the ends of the upturned extensions forming braces to prevent the breaking of the counter of the shoe, a rearwardly extending arm on the body, upturned extensions on the rearwardly extending arms, a head on the extension preventing the heel from breaking and means to attach the device firmly in place in a shoe.

2. A device of the class described comprising a body, laterally extending arms on the body, a rearwardly extending arm on the body, upturned extensions on the arms, heads at the upper ends of the upturned ex tensions, for reinforcing the shoe and preventing the breaking of the counter and downturned spurs laterally of the body and adjacent the lateral arms to hold the whole in place.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELISHA E. A. MARTIN.

Witnesses HARRY ATKINS, THUR MAN TALLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patentgd Aug; 15 1916 Application filed November 15, 1915. 

